Man arrested after pouring gasoline in home

October 3, 2012

A Talihina man was arrested early Wednesday morning (Sept. 19) after a call was placed advising the Pushmataha Sheriff’s Department that the man had broken into a house and was pouring gasoline around the outside of the residence which was located in Albion.

Deputy John Arthur was dispatched to the residence of Donna Hinton. When Arthur arrived at the residence, Deputy Marvin Watkins was placing handcuffs on the suspect, Chaz M. Austin, outside the residence.

Reports state that Austin had eventually gained access to the inside of the home after kicking in the locked front door. Once inside, Austin began to throw different items (candle) from the coffee table at Hinton while she was on the phone with the Sheriff’s department.

Deputy Arthur entered the residence of Hinton and was met with an overwhelming odor of gasoline inside the living room. He states that he noticed a liquid substance on the floor in the foyer area just inside the front door, which matched the area where the strongest odor was coming from. Hinton told Arthur that Austin had poured the gas in the house and was also threatening to light it on fire with a lighter.

Arthur recovered a Bic lighter for the right front pocket of Austin. He also recovered a yellow diesel fuel plastic container. Arthur read Austin his Miranda warning at approximately 11:30 a.m. outside the residence in Albion. Deputy Watkins advised Arthur that Austin had admitted to kicking in the front door of the residence.

Austin was transported to the Pushmataha County Jail without incident. Austin is being charged with Arson (4th degree) and Breaking and entering a dwelling without permission. A bond was set in the amount of $25,000.00.